The Lord, at his best
SARAT CHANDRA
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During Besha not only ornaments are lavishly used to deck the Puri triad, solapith handicrafts are also used.
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On the 13th day of the bright fortnight of Kartik (November 4 this year) Lord Jagannath looks resplendent in `Dalikia Besha'. In this Besha not only gold ornaments are lavishly used to deck the Puri triad (Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra): solapith handicrafts are also used.
Dalikia Besha comprises of cloth, solapith and gold jewels. Clothes are also skilfully used to deck the face and the head of the Lord. The piece of cloth used round the deities' face is known as Srikapada. The headgear is also made of cloth. Solapith handicrafts are of floral designs. There are a large number of these floral designs, set in the cloth around the face and the headgear of each deity. The `Suna Kia' — ornaments resembling petal of the kewda flower — arealso part of the decorations. At the top of the headgear a somewhat rounded ornament — Chandrika — is set.
Lord Jagannath's torso is decked with a sizable silk sari and some appliqué designs. Two golden palms are set on either hands of the God and, also on each hand dangled a handkerchief-like object, olomalo. The deity also holds his weapons, the chakra (wheel) and sankhu (conch). A number of floral ornaments — chitta, guna, adharamala and sripayaramala — are also lavishly used.
The ornaments include Bahadamali, Harada Mali, Kadamba Mali, Sebati Mali and Bagha Nakhi Mali. On either side of the face are Kana, Kundala, Chandrasurya.
The timing for the Dalikia Besha is after the morning bathing ritual, known as abakasa.
The adornments remain on the idols during the Gopalaballava Bhoga (breakfast), the Sakala Dhupa (early day meal) and the Bala Bhoga that is special only during the month of Kartika. The adornments thereafter are taken out.
The Besha is usually a huge success and lakhs of devotees witness the triad on the pedestal.
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